China study shows huge potential of low carbon telecom solutions

A joint China Mobile and WWF study has shown the huge potential low carbon telecom solutions have to reduce carbon emissions, with savings from Chinese telecom solutions in 2008 estimated at being similar to the total carbon dioxide emissions of countries like Sweden, Denmark or Finland. 'Low Carbon Telecommunications Solutions in China: Current Reductions and Future Potential' was carried out by the Service Management Science Research Institute of the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. It estimates direct carbon dioxide emissions savings from low carbon telecom solutions provided by China Mobile in 2008 at 48.5 million tonnes or just over six times the company's own emissions. For 2009, the savings were 58.2 million tonnes, almost six and a half times company emissions. "It is important to pay attention to the companies that deliver the solutions society needs, and not only focus on those that are big emitters," said Dermot O'Gorman, the Country Representative of WWF China. "We want to support China and Chinese companies to take the lead in a solution approach that can deliver results not just in China, but globally." The estimates were based on detailed analysis of direct savings from 14 low carbon information communication technologies (ICTs) offered by China Mobile which were categorised into smart logistics (like matching truck journeys to load needs), dematerialisation (saving paper and other materials), smart work (reducing commuting and travel needs) and smart appliances (remotely monitored and controlled for energy savings). The estimates are also conservative, disregarding the potential for indirect savings. For instance, while the energy implications from savings in paper from putting newspapers, sales brochures and invoicing online are calculated, no account is taken of the reduced needs for transport, storage and waste disposal or the knock-on infrastructure implications of such reductions.